EXPERIENCE

Brussels - Capital

Welcoming, pleasant, informal and cosmopolitan. A vibrant city, pleasant to wander in. At one and the same time, the capital of the European Union, the headquarters of NATO and a provincial town with its various parks and green areas all at the same time.

ON FOOT FROM THE QUEEN ANNE HOTELThe Grand’ Place - Mont des Arts - Place Royale

The city centre of Brussels provides an overview of the history of architecture from the 16th to the 21st Centuries. You will be able to admire the famous Grand’Place with its amazing architecture. Close by, you will come upon the Belgian “surrealism” of the Manneken Pis.

On the hill of Treurenberg stands that masterpiece of Gothic architecture, the cathedral of Saints Michael and Gudule. Taking the way towards the Mont des Arts, you will come to the Musées Royaux des Beaux-Arts (Royal Art Galleries) (major works of Bruegel, Rubens, Van Dyck and Jerôme Bosch). The entrance to the Magritte Art Gallery is from the nearby Place Royale. Across the street from the art gallery, in Rue Ravenstein, you will find the museum of musical instruments (MMI) in a splendid Art Nouveau building.

The museum of the Belgian comic-strip centre is in a building designed by the architect Victor Horta (Rue des Sables).

At 300 m from the Queen Anne Hotel, the City 2 shopping centre, Rue Neuve and the neighbouring streets will bring joy to shopping fans.

From the Grand’Place without any effort you can get to the Galeries Royales Saint-Hubert with its delightful little boutiques and brasseries.

The Antoine Dansaert quarter

Rue Dansaert, Rue des Chartreux, Rue Léon Lepage

Targeted, dynamic, trendy, arty, the Dansaert quarter is the meeting place for the devotees of Belgian fashion. Here you will also fine contemporary art galleries, vintage curios for your décor and design furniture boutiques.

The St Géry quarter

At 200 m from the Bourse (Stock Exchange), the Saint Géry quarter is one of the liveliest of the capital with its vast selection of fashionable bars and Asian restaurants attracting trendy consumers of all ages.

The Halles Saint Géry building in a neo-renaissance style of ironwork and glass, accommodates occasional exhibitions about life in Brussels, events … and a bar.

At lunchtime you can eat fish and seafood specialities standing at ad hoc counters.

In the evening allow your food genie to guide your choice of restaurant.

The Marolles and the Sablon

The old quarter of the Marolles, the oldest working-class district in the capital which in particular includes Place du Jeu de Balle (pelota), known for its morning flea market, always very busy on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.

Second-hand and antique dealers, art galleries, decorators, the real Brussels-style taverns are to be found in Place du Jeu de Balle, rueHaute and rue Blaes.

On Rue Haute, you can walk in front of the house of Pieter Breughel the Elder. Rue Haute and Rue Blaes, the two main arteries of the Marolles, lead to the Place du Grand Sablon and its chic shops.

The Belgian chocolate / confectionery producers Pierre Marcolini (World Champion, 1995 at Lyons), and Wittamer, as well as the houses of Godiva, Neuhaus, and the biscuit-maker Dandoy are all here for your greater pleasure.

Lovers of Havana cigars can find their favourite cigars at Davidoff.

You will also find certain attractive cafés and restaurants where it is good to “see and be seen”.

You should not forget the beautiful antiques and the art dealers in the neighbouring streets of the Sablon.